John Salmons played a huge role as the Chicago Bulls secured a playoff berth and nearly upset the Boston Celtics in a first-round series last season.

Now the Milwaukee Bucks are gambling he can have a similar impact for them in the final 30 games this season as they try to gain a playoff spot for the first time since 2006.

The Bucks were set to acquire the 6-foot-6 guard before Thursday's trade deadline in exchange for expiring contracts, league sources said, although the Milwaukee players involved were not confirmed as of Wednesday night. Forward Hakim Warrick and center Francisco Elson were the Bucks players expected to be in the deal, but late Wednesday the situation was still fluid regarding the Bucks going to Chicago.

Warrick, who has a $3 million expiring contract, suited up but did not play in the Bucks' 127-99 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Elson has an expiring deal worth $1.7 million.

Bucks officials would not immediately confirm a deal had been reached, and a team spokesman said no trade would be announced Wednesday night.

When Bucks coach Scott Skiles was asked if a deal was official, he said, "Nothing I can comment on right now."

It's possible the Bucks could pursue an additional trade before the deadline at 2 p.m. Thursday.

"It's a business and no matter what, you've got to be ready," Warrick said after the game. "You wonder, when it comes around this time and the deadline. Especially when you have a one-year deal, it's tough.

"You try not to let it bother you. If you worry about that, you definitely won't be able to perform at your best."

Bucks backup center Kurt Thomas played 18 minutes and had eight points and five rebounds against Houston. Some media reports had him as part of the Bucks deal with Chicago, but he shrugged off the trade talk.

"I was out there playing," the 37-year-old Thomas said. "I've been around a long time, and I'm just going to do my job, wherever I'm at.

"I'm going to do what I'm paid to do whenever I get the opportunity. I do what I love to do, and that's play this game.

"If I'm moving on, I'm moving on. But if I'm staying here, I enjoy playing with these guys, a great group of guys who compete each night."

Thomas has an expiring contract worth $3.8 million, and he was acquired last summer as part of the deal that sent forward Richard Jefferson to San Antonio.

As Warrick got ready to leave the locker room, he turned to Thomas and said, "See you tomorrow, Kurt," while wearing an ear-to-ear smile. Thomas, still seated at his locker, smiled and shook Warrick's hand.

Chicago was seeking salary space to make a bid for two major free agents during the summer.

Salmons was told to stay at the team hotel and did not play in the Bulls' game at New York on Wednesday night due to the impending trade.

The 30-year-old Salmons has played in 51 games for the Bulls this season, including 28 starts, and is averaging 12.7 points and 3.4 rebounds.

He has a $5.8 million player option for the 2010-'11 season, so the Bucks are making a move to take on salary.

Salmons was acquired by Chicago in a trade deadline deal with Sacramento a year ago, and he played a big part as the Bulls extended Boston to seven games before falling in a first-round Eastern Conference series.

Salmons averaged 18.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 26 regular-season games with the Bulls last year, and he averaged 18.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in the playoffs.

Bucks center Andrew Bogut said all the trade talk was a bit unsettling.

"It's obviously a distraction because you've got guys talking about it," Bogut said. "It's not a secret. We know which guys are rumored in trades."

The Bucks' move was just part of a busy night prior to the trade deadline.

Veteran power forward Antawn Jamison left Washington and joined LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team deal involving the Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Wizards received Al Thornton from the Clippers and Zydrunas Ilgauskas from the Cavaliers, along with a first-round pick from Cleveland. Jamison and Sebastian Telfair went to Cleveland, while the Clippers received forward Drew Gooden from Washington.